Belleville Fire Reaches 6th Alarm on Cortlandt Street

The belleville fire at 347 Cortlandt Street escalated to a 6th alarm on Sunday after crews first found heavy flames inside a two-story brick commercial building. Firefighters later pulled ladder truck units back amid collapse concerns and water supply problems.

Frank Velez III on Cortlandt Street

Belleville councilman Frank Velez III wrote on Facebook that first responders were on scene at a large fire on Cortlandt Street between Holmes Street and Joralemon Street, with mutual aid from neighboring communities. He also told the public, "Please avoid the area and allow our first responders to safely manage the situation."

Crews first arrived to find the fire burning in a commercial building at 347 Cortlandt Street, where the initial assignment rose to a 2nd-alarm response with additional support from nearby Newark units. As the flames worsened, officials upgraded the incident to a 3rd alarm and moved crews into defensive operations.

Defensive Operations at 347 Cortlandt Street

Firefighters later saw flames breaking through the roof and deployed multiple ladder trucks to attack the blaze from above. Command also requested an air cascade truck to replenish breathing apparatus, then warned personnel to stay clear of a designated collapse zone around the structure.

The fire then climbed to a 6th alarm, and ladder truck units were evacuated as concerns grew over an imminent structural collapse. Crews were also facing water supply issues while emergency operations remained underway.

Belleville Fire Response

For nearby residents and businesses, the practical instruction was simple: stay out of the area around Cortlandt Street, Holmes Street, and Joralemon Street while firefighters worked the scene. The response drew in neighboring units and moved from an initial commercial structure fire to a larger multi-alarm operation, which is the point at which access, equipment, and scene safety become the immediate priorities.